Drop Patrol And Other Observations
May 20th, 2013
Outside of the heavyweight bout between Jeremy Zuttah and Akeem Spence, there wasn’t much excitement at the underwear football practice at One Buc Palace today. And there shouldn’t be.
Contact is not allowed, though players don’t always play by the rules, and much of it is drill work. But the 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 play can be a little revealing.
*Interesting to see DaQuan Bowers lining up inside in what appeared to be several pass rush situations. Daniel Te’o-Nesheim and Dekoda Watson were alongside him on the left end.
*Dave Wannstedt had a very vocal and animated presence as Bucs special teams coach early in practice. The loudest voice at practice? No, not Schiano, but Wannstedt, who was as intense as it can get working with special teams players. “Alright guys, listen to me,” he bellowed. How could they not? The priests over at nearby Jesuit High School were probably upset at Wannstedt’s volume.
*Both Josh Freeman and Mike Glennon looked pretty sharp, though Freeman did make a bad throw over the middle that was knocked down with two hands by Eric Wright.
*Wide receiver coach John Garrett continues to be very hands-on in drills and while teaching. Joe caught a time when Garrett essentially ran up to Tiquan Underwood and slapped him after a play, and the two then went over what appeared to be route details and technique. Garrett’s body language seemed to be saying, ‘I already taught you this.’ ALso interesting about Garrett, he was coaching up receivers on how to properly roll up on a fumble, and how to properly protect the ball once possession is gained.
*On the stone hands front, Vincent Jackson had a drop. Former Giants Pro Bowler Steve Smith, trying to snatch a roster spot, had a very bad drop of a Mike Glennon short pass.
“On the good hands front, 21-year-old wide receiver Eric Page, who was injured in training camp with the Denver Broncos last year, caught a lot of balls and appears very fluid. He’s 5-10, 180 pounds and was a legend at the University of Toledo.
*Punter Mike Koenen does a quality impression of veteran Bucs beat scribe eye-RAH! Kaufman.
*The defense played as if it was the final play of the Super Bowl in drills to start the session, which got Schiano all fired up. “Way to go defense, way to go. Way to get us started!”
*Though Joe may be mistaken, there sure seemed to be a lot of hollering to start the practice, more so than last year’s first OTA. There also seemed to be much more enthusiasm, almost like a college atmosphere. Of course, there wasn’t Sgt. Winslow around to drag everyone one down with his moping.
*How intense was practice in the early moments? Even the waterboys were busting their arse trying to keep up with all the players running around.
*In one drill, coaches had linebackers practice rolling up ballcarriers using a giant tackling dummy.
*With Darrelle Revis relegated to riding a stationary bike, Leonard Johnson was working with the first team defense.
*Good ol’ Doug Martin, still biting the football, still running the distance like a Buccaneer Man should.
May 20th, 2013 at 3:49 pm
Great stuff Joe. Sounds like the players are still buying into what Schiano is preaching, no “first day back to school” doldrums.
May 20th, 2013 at 4:01 pm
“”Of course, there wasn’t Sgt. Winslow around to drag everyone one down with his moping.”” Funny stuff Joe!
May 20th, 2013 at 4:11 pm
Uh oh, Freeman threw a bad pass in the first OTA. A franchise QB’s don’t miss passes in practice. Better bench him for the rookie.
CONTROVERSY!!!!!!
May 20th, 2013 at 4:14 pm
Many thanks, Joe.
Eric Page–I went back & looked–he was ”USA Today’s” # 28 WR prospect in 2012, & ”Lindy’s’ ” #17–so maybe more than just a camp body.Has returner potential; looks like a slot-guy only, however.
May 20th, 2013 at 4:31 pm
Thanks Joe, always love your coverage of camps.
May 20th, 2013 at 4:59 pm
Great work Joe, just great work. I enjoyed reading your take on the OTA.
May 20th, 2013 at 5:11 pm
Thanks Joe! Always love the insight you can only get here.
May 20th, 2013 at 5:28 pm
Love the OTA break downs Joe, keep it up.
(Nice one Celly, that was my thought exactly when I read that)
May 20th, 2013 at 5:36 pm
Thanks Joe
Living up here in Canada we don’t get the good inside stuff!
Thanks again
May 20th, 2013 at 5:51 pm
I’m most intrigued by Koenen’s Kaufman impression lol. I bet that’s something to witness.
May 20th, 2013 at 5:51 pm
Did anyone catch if Baron sat in the wrong seat this year? LOL
May 20th, 2013 at 5:54 pm
You got me all antsy and excited Joe! God!… I can’t wait for football to get started again. I’m looking forward to what could be in store for us fans this season with guarded anticipation. 🙂
May 20th, 2013 at 6:26 pm
so..in other words…Greg Schiano has brought in “The Bad Cop” Dave Wannstedt …which will allow him to play the “Good Cop”…brilliant ! tactic….Byran Cox …well expect him to be ..him…Rasta Likee…
May 20th, 2013 at 7:22 pm
Great commentary Joe. Sounds like the players are as jacked up as we are about this season, that’s good!
May 20th, 2013 at 7:29 pm
Great update Joe. Thanks for the details.
May 20th, 2013 at 8:24 pm
Hey Joe… is there anyway that you can get some video footage on Mike Glennon?
Thanks to all of your coverage, he is now my favorite Buc QB!
May 20th, 2013 at 10:15 pm
Appreciate all the kind words guys. Much more content to come in the next few days. Joe talked to a lot of players after practice and got some really cool insight that Joe knows many of you will enjoy.
238:
No, Joe’s not taping any OTAs. He may for training camp but not decided yet. The thing is, in OTAs, the Bucs only allow the first 30 minutes of training camp to be video taped which is often the time players are going through conditioning drills. So not even sure Joe could get clips of Glennon throwing the ball or not.
May 21st, 2013 at 8:17 am
Should wrap up the offseason championship.
Every time I hear the name Wannstedt it’s like I bit into a rotten apple. Guaranteed bottom ten special teams this year. Can only hope the cancer doesn’t spread.
May 21st, 2013 at 10:00 am
Not sold on Glennon yet. Looks awful frail. Reminds somewhat of Chris Sims
May 21st, 2013 at 4:46 pm
I dont know what I would if it wasnt for Joe and his constant investigations on everything Bucs, being that I’m from Virginia. Kudos to you my friend, and thanks for always feeding our Bucs addiction with consistently great insight.